The Food Byte: Experience A Pop-Up Iftar in Dubai

If you've been in the UAE long enough, you've definitely experienced iftar/suhoor in hotels and or cafes. The iftar/suhoor tents are decked, the spread is lavish and the ambience is laced with the conventional Ramadan vibe.

Arabic cuisine is the common thread across venues hosting iftar and suhoor tents. You will find a bit of international cuisine thrown into the mix as well but that's about it. The buffet gives you the option to eat at your will and you really can't miss the desserts station. Ask anyone and they will tell you the tents have evolved into glamorous ones and it almost feels like you are experiencing an Emarati wedding (you'll know what I mean if you've been to one).

That's how iftar/suhoor is however, Dubai is a city that has established itself in doing things differently and with much success. There's one particular venue that checks off all the boxes when it comes to a unique iftar proposition. It's an iftar pop-up that furnishes different dishes from a menu that will leave you raving about the food.

Ramadan Nights by Dish is an alternative iftar venue located at Warehouse Four, Al Quoz. Featuring dishes inspired by recipes across the Middle East, the venue, ambience and food will take you on a surprisingly pleasant gastronomic journey.

The Food Byte: Iftar At Fairuz Ramadan Tent, Fairmont Hotel

While several hotels across the city of Dubai set up Ramadan tents, only a few manage to capture the essence of Ramadan and true Arabic hospitality. The venue, the interiors, the food, the service and ambience, among other things all make it either a good or bad experience.

I've been fortunate not to have any bad experiences when it comes to iftar/suhoor tents. Of late, I had iftar at the Fairuz Ramadan Tent hosted at the Fairmont Hotel, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai and it was a delight to see quite a few elements of the Arabic culture as part of it.

The Food Byte: Iftar At Amiri Tent, The Address Hotel Montgomerie

When we welcome the month of Ramadan, we also welcome the lavish tents and the food spreads across the city of Dubai. While the holy month isn't really about the food, hotels have taken it upon themselves to create visually appealing and satisfying food whilst creating a menu featuring local and global cuisines.

It's nice to step out of the home once in a while and break the fast in a Ramadan tent. For those who aren't accustomed with what that is, it's not a tiny tent but one that is air-conditioned and can host upto 1,000 people. One of the best things about Ramadan tents is the fact that it welcomes all individuals (non-fasting included), regardless of caste and creed to dine with the rest and learn about the origins of this month. Top level info that you need to know about Ramadan is that we fast for a month (yes, "not even water"), iftar is known as the time we break our fast and suhoor is when we eat prior to fasting. We celebrate the end of Ramadan with Eid (that's one day when nobody cares about calories or gyms). 

While there are certain tents I always prefer, I love exploring new ones (i.e. those I haven't visited yet but have been around). I was invited to the Amiri tent located at The Address Hotel, Montgomerie, Emirates Hills. 

The Food Byte: Caffe di Artisan's Luxe Coffee

I've always been a tea person. I drink tea randomly (without reason) and am usually exploring tea cafes or venues that have special tea. I also end up purchasing tea in different varieties and am so appreciative of the fact that the tea industry has gone beyond just the standard tea. I mean, bubble tea, cardamom tea, orange tea, Jasmine Pearl tea, blackberry tea...you name it, they most likely have it.

Coffee is on the other extreme of my caffeine universe. I barely drink coffee. The last time I had it was back in London. I accidentally stumbled upon it during the Malaysian fair (you have got to give their cuisine a try- it is incredibly delicious!). My best friend and I both bought a small box of Hazelnut coffee among other things and whipped up 2 mugs of the brewed drink once home. I genuinely fell in love with it. It was creamy, not bitter and the hazelnut flavor reminded me of desserts. 

And I recalled this episode when the folks at Caffe di Artisan sent me a box of their luxury coffee. I was pretty intrigued at the variety that appeared in the box and their claim of luxe coffee that could be prepared at home without a coffee machine. So, I put the pods to the test. 

The Food Byte: Brunch at Mercato Restaurant, Dubai

Of late, I've been loving brunches. I used to laze around in bed on the mornings of Friday and Saturdays not wanting to do anything. The tradition of brunch was initiated by my cousin late last year as she really didn't want to spend her weekends at home. So she dragged me off to my first brunch. Needless to say, I was a miserable bunny sitting in the car not looking forward to anything.

But the brunch I had changed my perspective on the late morning, mid-afternoon feast so much that I was the one searching for brunch options later that week.

My brunch goals are pretty much relaxing in a picturesque venue with good food and friends (at times, family). I'm glad to say that all brunch venues I have visited have left a lasting impression on me. Last week, I discovered a quaint little restaurant called Mercato located in the Italian Quarter at Gate Village 1 in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

A Day of Bliss At The Shangri-La Hotel's Chi Spa

Dubai is a city that is abundant in everything, from automobiles to food to fashion...you name it, we have it (well, almost everything). It's also a city that prides itself in the best hotels and relaxation spots.

I love spas more than chocolate (well, okay not really but I do love spas). It's one of those places I go to alone because I really don't want to make small talk while having a facial or a foot massage. I know several girls who take their gang along and create a fun girls day out. While that's great once in a while, I still prefer time by myself. After all, isn't spa time all about me-time? 

I discovered a hidden gem at the Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai the other day. Chi, the spa is truly one of the best spas around Dubai. For this month, they have a selection of body massages and facials for both men and women. They've also introduced a new element on their listing- the Pumpkin Spice Body Peel and Wrap. Doesn't it sound perfect for this season and just about divine? 

I opted for the Rebalancing Retreat; this menu item combines a brightening facial and a deep tissue back massage. The best part about my experience? This was the first time I signed up for a back massage. 

Brunching At The Movenpick Hotel + Giveaway

In Dubai brunches are gaining traction like never before. It's crazy how many hotels (and restaurants, alike) have revamped their brunch offering. It's also indicative of the fact that people don't tend to laze around in their PJs at home on days off anymore.

Brunches can turn into a good or bad experience and I'm glad to state that I haven't been to a bad brunch. It's purely because several hotels pay close attention to every aspect, more so than ever before making the time spent there, worthwhile. 

Having said that, I visited the Movenpick Hotel for brunch. The Art of Brunch, as they call it takes place at the Fountain restaurant, every Friday until Dec 31, 2016 and features a plethora of delicious bite-sized and main course meals within different cuisines along with drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic). 

I'm also sending my 4 lucky readers on this brunch so they can experience it themselves!

The Food Byte: Fusion Sushi at Moshi, Dubai

I'm not a fan of seafood. I used to happily consume fish and prawns as a kid but not anymore. Overtime, my preferences have...well, evolved and I tend to shy away from any form of seafood. I do like hammour and salmon; the best salmon I've had is back in London. Everyone I know gravitates towards particular seafood dishes and sushi tends to be (almost) everyone's favorite.

I have not had sushi to date and doubt I will in the future. Unless I lose a bet. Then it's a completely different story. Nonetheless, sometime ago I received an invite to feast at Moshi. I discovered the restaurant serves, as they state momos and sushi. I had no intentions of visiting the restaurant, for obvious reasons. The month before, a friend had mentioned Moshi to me but I barely registered what she said. Nonetheless, about 4 days later while checking my emails I spotted the invite appended with a document that highlighted the story of Moshi.

While reading it, I quickly discovered to my surprise that this isn't your traditional sushi serving restaurant.

The Food Byte: A Dubai Iftar At Barbecue Delights

I've visited to Barbecue Delights several times and it's always a joy to have gastronomic adventures there. It's a restaurant that serves finger-licking Pakistani cuisine and has branches across the city.

It's one of those restaurants you go to with your family over the weekend. And along with your family, you invite your cousins' family as well. You consume scrumptious food, converse about anything and everything under the sun whilst Snapchatting your food adventures.

With Ramadan on-going, I was invited to try the special Iftar buffet at their Downtown Dubai branch.

The Food Byte: An Italian Feast At Biella

When I come across anything Italian, the first two things that come to mind are pasta and Tiramisu followed by handbags. Yes, quite a weird combination but can you blame me? Tiramisu is native to Italy and I'm not one to favor coffee but I make this dessert an exception.

Having said that, I paid Biella Restaurant a visit. For the longest time, I assumed Biella specialized in seafood but I stand corrected. The restaurant located in Wafi Mall, Dubai caters to those who look forward to having a good Italian meal.

The Food Byte: Dum Dum Donutterie Opens Shop In Dubai, UAE

I love doughnuts. You don't get it. I was born with a sweet tooth, and I'm not afraid to use it. Doughnuts have been a childhood favorite. I can't remember the number of times I had the notorious chocolate glazed doughnut for lunch at school. Can a doughnut be notorious? In my books, yes. They were fried, had oodles and oodles of sugar and chocolate but still tasted so good! I bet they taste the same to date but I'm not touching them.

Desserts have seen a new light of the day- we've got fancy cupcakes, cake pops, cronuts, truffles and even ice-cream sandwiches which don't resemble anything like the traditional ones we're familiar with. Nobody's complaining. While I love macarons, doughnuts will have a special place in my heart. I mean, even Homer Simpson couldn't shut his gob when it came to the sugary fried dough with a hole.

In my opinion, the best desserts come from the Queen's country, the UK. I might be biased here but I haven't tasted a Creme Brulee so good as I did when back in London. The melt-in-your mouth, cooked to perfection custard dessert is pure perfection. And being a tea person, I'm quite picky when it comes to the kind I drink. Fortnum and Mason is my favorite tea place in the world, period. And where does it originate from? Yep, you got that right. And there's something new that we have in Dubai- the famous Dum Dum Donutterie!

The Food Byte: Iftar at 3in1 Restaurant, Vida Downtown Dubai

One of the best things about Ramadan is the variety of food that's prepared at home. It's a different menu in Ramadan and thanks to numerous magazines and food shows on TV, I get a chance to try my hand at new recipes. And by that I mean all things sweet.

I come from a family that excels in the art of desserts. I kid you not. Starting from my grandma to my cousin, we will all happily jump on the desserts bandwagon and treat you to royal desserts. It doesn't matter how full you are, you must eat something sweet. The table spread during Eid is something to behold- apart from the ready-made desserts there will always be a handful of new home-made desserts each year. I still remember looking at the selection and wondering how I would eat it all. I couldn't. I did however, manage to eat a decadent chocolate orange truffle.

The deal with food in Ramadan is that there's way too much to eat, by the grace of God. And every time, we are faced with wastage. We cook based on everyone's preference but 90% of time, there will be extras/left-overs. It is even worse in hotels. I can imagine the quantity of food that is binned every evening. However, there are places that make an extra effort to counter this. One such place is the 3in1 Restaurant at Vida, Downtown Dubai.

The Food Byte: Iftar At Citymax Hotel, Dubai

Iftar in Dubai hotels is quite an experience. At some venues, it's an extravagant feast fit for weddings while others provide reasonably good portions. I'm all for eliminating food wastage, I hate to see untouched food go straight to the bin.

Among other things, Ramadan is also about what new savory/dessert you can put on the table. At hotels, each restaurant aims to whip up traditional and unique dishes catering to all. Would you believe it if I said there's a restaurant that's serving seafood iftar? It's true! I can't digest the thought of consuming seafood right after fasting for hours (that and the fact that I'm not a seafood fan). I usually play it safe with local cuisine- who can go wrong with freshly cut greens for salads, fatayer, hummus and the likes? I recently paid a visit to City Cafe at Citymax Hotels for an Arabic iftar.

The Food Byte: Bloomsbury's, Dubai Mall

As a kid, I visited several different carnivals, picnics and birthday parties. And every time I attended these, there were 2 things I eagerly looked forward to. The fun games we would get to play and the candy we would get to gobble.

Halloween was one of those holidays which was almost like the Black Friday of candies.  And it was also quite special because it arrived in my birthday month. I'd round up my friends and go from door to door, chanting "trick or treeeeeeat" in unison and heading back home towards the end of evening to count how long our loot would last. Trust me when I say, we were disappointed that some of our neighbors gave us cash as opposed to candy.

I get my sweet tooth from my dad. I am forever experimenting and making desserts at home and I absolutely appreciate places in Dubai that put in that extra effort into making your whole experience delightful. There are several quirky and unique dessert venues in the city but only a few of them score high on food, quality, service and other elements. And I discovered one such place, Bloomsbury's located in Dubai Mall.

The Food Byte: Peppermill Restaurant, Dubai

Indian food isn't easy to make. There are several non-Indian restaurants in Dubai that attempt to do so and don't score big. Nonetheless, the city does have its good spots when it comes to this particular cuisine and once in a while you stumble upon restaurants that make you go, "Why am I only finding out about this place now?".

Being born in Dubai exposed me to several different cuisines, some of which I love and some...well, let's leave it at that.

 I've been to and ordered from a fair share of Indian restaurants in the city. Suffice to say, only a few make me want to dine with them again. It's a medley of service, quality, food, atmosphere, ease of locating the venue, parking etc that makes me recommend it to friends and family. I recently paid a visit to Peppermill Restaurant in Barsha and it has become a firm favorite.

The Food Byte: A Moroccon Iftar at Pullman Hotel, Deira City Centre

The month of Ramadan is quite special for Muslims. It's a month where things change for several people and to some extent, it is almost a new year for us. One of the best things about Ramadan is the time of breaking the fast, also known as Iftar.

For me, it is the time when my brother and I sit across each other and not fight (like cats and dogs). It is also a time to eat (more like chow down) all the amazing dishes mom prepares especially desserts (who doesn't like mohalabiya?). I mean, after a day's worth of fasting you have got to consume sugar to kickstart those energy levels, right? 

Review: The White Room Spa, Dubai

In a place like Dubai, where you have a social event every other day, salons are known for their blow dries, mani/pedi services and hair color (in that particular order). When I compliment my friends about their hair, I realize the culprit is a good blow dry.

It's rare that you get to pay a flat fee for blow dries. 90% of the salons charge you based on the length of your hair and half of them don't even do a good job. I've only found one place in Dubai that actually does do good blow dries and charges a flat fee no matter what your hair length is (Marquee, brainchild of the famous Nail Spa). The other day though, I discovered another place and it's become a favorite- The White Room Spa.

The Food Byte: Red Star Wok, Dubai

It's always an awesome adventure when you stumble upon a new restaurant/cafe. There is an abundance of such in Dubai but to find one that checks off all boxes when it comes to food, quality, service and the likes, isn't easy. And it's always a hassle to zero in on what to have for lunch. I spend at least 30mins figuring that out, only to end up ordering from the same place I had 2 days ago.

I turned into a happy bunny when I discovered Red Star Wok. If you like Asian cuisine, you will want to give this place a go. Located in Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT) and Business Bay, Dubai, the first branch operates as a takeaway and the other, dine-in & takeaway. I placed my order at the JLT branch and it came exactly at the anticipated time. I was quite delighted that the food was still warm when it arrived vs. order from other restaurants/cafes. 

The 2014 Holiday Gift Guide: Crate & Barrel

Say hello to the third part of the holiday gift guide! At this time of the year, several people look to either revamp their homes (most of the stores have promotions in full swing) or are moving into a new home. And that means new furniture! I love furniture shopping but hate going from one store to another if I can't find my ideal/dream pieces.

Crate & Barrel in Dubai makes it so much easier- I've spotted a few coffee tables, mugs and accessories that became an instant favorite. And to make things even better, they are offering 25% off on select furniture.

If you are visiting a friend who just moved into their new apartment or are looking to breathe life into your home, here are a few ideas.

Do you see the trunk shaped tables in the picture on the top left? They are actual trunks of acacia trees polished and refined to perfection. It's quite unique and my favorite. Look how fab those cute festive cups are. And those glorious candle holders? It is things like these that make up a room.

The 2014 Holiday Gift Guide: Mamas & Papas

As part of the second holiday gift guide series, I bring you some festive goodies for your little one. While the holiday season means finding the perfect gift for friends and family, it also means gifting the kids something they will like or look good in.

Mamas & Papas is the new destination to shop for the mini-you. The Holiday Collection treats them to casual and formal wear that is inspired by the colors of the season and things festive. There are also mini tuxedos and party dresses for those who love to emulate their dad's or mom's style. Apart from that, there are a number of accessories that will fit snugly into their rooms, the Christmas tree and their hearts. 

How awesome is that hanging silver star? It's a perfect customized gift. Also makes a brilliant desk accessory (for me). And the passport holders? I have a penchant for them, the fancier, the better! I might just go pick that one for myself.